Eric has used his imagination to make the most out of his limited space. CHRIS NEVARD

‘Dart Valley Junction’ is a stage on which Eric Austin can entertain both himself and visitors alike, and it deserves a standing ovation.

I‘m honestly in awe of every layout I get to cover here in Model Rail; the talent that graces our hobby never fails to surprise me. But as someone who prefers model making over play, I’ve never daydreamed about owning another’s layout, until now...

What makes Eric Austin’s ‘Dart Valley Junction’ so special? It’s everything a home layout should be: visually appealing, small enough not to take over the house and, above all, fun!The layout is awash with interactive elements including interior and exterior lighting, sounds, working signals, and even live steam. Remarkably, everything is neatly packaged within a modest 8ft by 3ft scenic section.

Unsurprisingly, Eric spent huge amounts of time meticulously planning every inch of the layout to be as visually appealing and fun to operate as possible. But it doesn’t stop there. He’s constantly upgrading electrics, detailing stock and restoring areas of scenery...